Family feud in Hawthorne Billings leg

Courtesy Of CKG Billings Series - CKG Billings (the man) and his great trotting mare and world champion, Lou Dillon.

Many of the big guns in the Midwest Region of the C.K.G Billings Amateur Driving Series will convene at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Ill. on Sunday, August 3 to compete in a nine-horse trot slated as the first race on the betting card and perhaps for the first time ever in a betting race a wife will drive against her husband and a daughter against her father.

Regional point leader Steve "You're Never Too" Oldford will handle Pure Electricity and start from post position five.

Dale "the Big Boss" Zahn, currently fourth on the Midwest leaderboard, will drive Solo Status and start from the five-hole and "Buckboard Bob" Miller, currently in fifth place, will be up behind Easy Chaser and start from post nine. Former National Amateur Driver of the Year, "Trader Bud" Hatfield , seventh on the list, will be making only his seventh start in Billings competition this year, and will drive Absolute Resolve when they leave from the eight-hole.

Others looking for victory in Billings trot that night include "Chicago George" Bonomo, Kelly "Sky" Walker and "Congenial Gene" Miller, himself a former "National Amateur Driver Of the Year.

But unlike many of the Billings races this year -- or any year for that matter -- two ladies will be among the competitors. "Patricia "the Write Stuff" Miller will handle Trotting Houdini and start from the rail position and "Michelle the Belle" Ruvola will guide Spit Happens and leave from the four-hole.

Interestingly, and most unusual in the Billings contest at Hawthorne Race Course is that Patricia Miller will be driving against her husband Bob Miller, and Michelle Ruvola will be driving against her dad, George Bonomo.

It certainly is odd and maybe a new pop record of sorts but how many betting races pit a wife against her husband and a daughter against her father?